I used to jump off ice all the time. I learned on the trampoline and moved to the ground. I had videos a long time ago and some people here probably saw them at some point. I could do up to a cheated 4toe on the ground and sometimes, when I put in a lot of practice, I had a solid 3axel. I jumped all the triples but the take offs were just ugly, you can't really toe pick without a toe pick, haha, so I usually took off flat footed and often from two feet. It was fun but the axel was always hard for me as I tended to whip around like Lipinski.

It's fairly common. If you have the ability to do a triple axel on the ice you should have the ability to do one off the ice. It depends on where you're from though, because some coaches never focus on jumping off ice but for some it's seen as a vital part of training. Russian coaches in particular stress off ice jumping.

It's fairly common. If you have the ability to do a triple axel on the ice you should have the ability to do one off the ice. It depends on where you're from though, because some coaches never focus on jumping off ice but for some it's seen as a vital part of training. Russian coaches in particular stress off ice jumping.

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I don't think that's entirely true. I saw Plushenko "only" do three revolutions on a triple axel attempt off ice. It is much harder to jump off ice, since you are at a standstill.

Don't see a whole lot of triple tours in ballet by male dancers-mostly doubles, but they do point their feet, hold their bodies/shoulders erect, and have arms in the correct various positions. Seriously, either athlete is fabulous in my book. I know Emanuel was a ballet dancer-you can tell. Wonder how much ballet Kulik had? I always assumed the Russian skaters had tons of ballet, but how true is this? The pairs skaters look like they have more ballet to me, but what do I know?

Not from my experience. I remember learning to rotate off ice (to use legs, body position, close your arms, control landings...) in both direction. But jumping technique is very different on the ice and use speed and edges.

I don't think that's entirely true. I saw Plushenko "only" do three revolutions on a triple axel attempt off ice. It is much harder to jump off ice, since you are at a standstill.

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I haven't seen him jump off ice, but I would bet that he does have the ability to do a triple axel off the ice, even if he was having trouble with it when you saw him. Mishin is big on off ice jumps, so I would be surprised if Plushenko can't do it- especially since he's one of the best jumpers ever! And yes, I do understand that jumping off the ice is a little harder since you need more strength to do it, but once you have the ability to jump a triple axel *on* the ice you shouldn't have much trouble figuring out how to do one *off* the ice. Plus you don't have to account for speed going in and out, slipperiness of the ice, edges, etc, all of which make the jump riskier and harder to control.

I find it kind of amusing that people are so shocked by triple axels off the ice when that same jump on the ice is so common Hell, I could do a triple axel off ice I was nowhere near one on the ice. Off ice jumping is much more forgiving. And less scary

Also, imagine the weight of the boots. Take those off and off ice jumping should be easy for someone who can do it on the ice. As I said, I did triple axels off ice and was self taught. It is certainly possible. I just think a lot of people don't train off ice jumps.

During the qualifying rounds at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Brisbane, the Russian and German singles skaters prior to skating warmed up by the ice doing doubles and triples in their sneakers. It was amazing to see!

I used to jump off ice all the time. I learned on the trampoline and moved to the ground. I had videos a long time ago and some people here probably saw them at some point. I could do up to a cheated 4toe on the ground and sometimes, when I put in a lot of practice, I had a solid 3axel. I jumped all the triples but the take offs were just ugly, you can't really toe pick without a toe pick, haha, so I usually took off flat footed and often from two feet. It was fun but the axel was always hard for me as I tended to whip around like Lipinski.

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I remember when you posted these.

I'm sorry I never got around to capturing a lot of my own on tape, either.

On the floor, I got to the point where I could do a 3flip/3toe/3toe/3toe. My triple axel was a bit scary b/c of the forward take off, but I could tack a 3toe onto the end of it. The centrifugal force of trying the 4sal however, forced my eyes shut, so I had to feel for the landing most times.

During the qualifying rounds at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Brisbane, the Russian and German singles skaters prior to skating warmed up by the ice doing doubles and triples in their sneakers. It was amazing to see!

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That's a pretty common way to warm up for axels, doubles, and triples nowadays. Most coaches warm up their advanced students in the lobby before they take to the ice for a lesson.

It seems unbelieveable now but I remember reading in several skater memoirs that the North American skaters in the 70's never did that, even at competitions like Worlds. Apparently the East Germans started doing it and the other skaters were amazed when they took to the ice for their warm-up and could do triple jumps right away.

I don't have any of my old videos any more. I had some on video but threw them all out with my old skating tapes. I meant to save them but I had not labeled them and the idea of sitting through tons of unlabeled skating tapes to find just one was not very fun. I now wish I had kept some but it isn't as if I could show any of my real life friends. You guys would be the only ones to appreciate and/or understand.

I don't have any of my old videos any more. I had some on video but threw them all out with my old skating tapes. I meant to save them but I had not labeled them and the idea of sitting through tons of unlabeled skating tapes to find just one was not very fun. I now wish I had kept some but it isn't as if I could show any of my real life friends. You guys would be the only ones to appreciate and/or understand.

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I may have a couple of your real player files on my old computer somewhere.

I remember being impressed with how you could tack double loops onto the end of your triples. I had so much trouble doing loops as the second jump in combination, it was easier for me to do a double or triple loop first.

Don't see a whole lot of triple tours in ballet by male dancers-mostly doubles, but they do point their feet, hold their bodies/shoulders erect, and have arms in the correct various positions. Seriously, either athlete is fabulous in my book. I know Emanuel was a ballet dancer-you can tell. Wonder how much ballet Kulik had? I always assumed the Russian skaters had tons of ballet, but how true is this? The pairs skaters look like they have more ballet to me, but what do I know?

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Ever see the movie "Center Stage"? I think Ilia had plenty of ballet training.

I read somewhere that he'd landed a 4A on the floor, but never tried it on the ice. Apparently it's a huge technique in Russia to be able to land all your jumps on the floor. I think it takes the place of the harness.

I see the more advanced girls at my rink doing off-ice jumps all the time. My coach wants me to start doing off-ice jumps too.

There's video floating around somewhere of Plushenko playing soccer for some celebrity team...he scores a goal and celebrates with an over-rotated 2A (on the grass, in soccer boots! ) and a couple of very pretty butterflies.

Ever see the movie "Center Stage"? I think Ilia had plenty of ballet training.

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At least enough to pass for a professional at the barre. Upper body shot only, of course.

....it always bugged me that Sergei got shunted to San Fransisco. And that he wasn't given a bigger part in the movie, really. I liked Sergei, he was my favourite character. (Disclaimer: I liked Sergei before I started following figure skating!)

I read somewhere that he'd landed a 4A on the floor, but never tried it on the ice. Apparently it's a huge technique in Russia to be able to land all your jumps on the floor. I think it takes the place of the harness.

I see the more advanced girls at my rink doing off-ice jumps all the time. My coach wants me to start doing off-ice jumps too.

There's video floating around somewhere of Plushenko playing soccer for some celebrity team...he scores a goal and celebrates with an over-rotated 2A (on the grass, in soccer boots! ) and a couple of very pretty butterflies.